2nd Test England v Pakistan, Old Trafford, 22-26 July

[Arthur Crabtree]

Except he's injured now...

[hopeforthebest]

Stokes says Yasir Shah is best leg spinner since Warne, wonder how he knows has somebody told him. Warne maybe.

[Arthur Crabtree]

STOKES ISSUES SECOND TEST SNUB TO ADIL.

[Dr Cricket]

reading the press advantage pakistan, outfield not that great so reverse swing will happen and the pitch is likely to turn.

[bigfluffylemon]

To be fair, Shah is the first leggie to have hit the number 1 bowling rankings since a certain S Warne in 2005. So it's a reasonable thing to say.

Rashid probably offers a better attacking spin option than Moeen against Pakistan, given their preponderence of right handers. I would expect both of them to go for a few runs, but if they take wickets that doesn't have to be a problem - we have four seamers who should be able to keep it tight. Two spinners against this Pakistan side is a huge risk, even if the conditions are likely to help.

Strage that OT being Anderson's home ground is not a better one for him, although how many CC games has he played in the last few years?

[bigfluffylemon]

Cook is the only England bat with an Old Trafford ton (two).

Not overly surprising, given that it's a young squad and there have only been a couple of test matches there in the last six years. Of the recognised batsmen only Cook and Root have played 2 or more tests at OT (Ballance, Moeen and Bairstow one each, Hales, Vince, Stokes none).

[bigfluffylemon]

Does anyone else feel Moeen has gone backwards as a batsman since being asked to be the primary spinner?

[hopeforthebest]

Does anyone else feel Moeen has gone backwards as a batsman since being asked to be the primary spinner?

I suspect he's bowling exactly the same, which is his problem, and batsmen have far less respect for him. He is predictable and for a spin bowler that's not good.

[backfootpunch]

Does anyone else feel Moeen has gone backwards as a batsman since being asked to be the primary spinner?

Definitely

And his bowling hasn't got any better either

He is decent in ODIs but not close to being good enough in tests

[Gingerfinch]

Being asked to bat down the order can't help. What's his role with the bat now? Chip in and try and help out the tail.

[backfootpunch]

Being asked to bat down the order can't help. What's his role with the bat now? Chip in and try and help out the tail.

Unless his role is flash at the ball recklessly before getting in, he isn't doing it

[Dr Cricket]

should be remembered Ali wasn't that great when he batted in the top 6 or opened before for england.

[Gingerfinch]

Being asked to bat down the order can't help. What's his role with the bat now? Chip in and try and help out the tail.

Unless his role is flash at the ball recklessly before getting in, he isn't doing it

Batting in the top 6 at least gives you a role. I would like to think his batting may improve if he were to bat in the top 6, though he really isn't good enough to do so.

[Dr Cricket]

think it says something when Stokes is more of a solid batsman that Ali really.

[KipperJohn]

Surely Moeen's role as a batsman, as any other, is to play in a manner consistent with the state of the game, the conditions and the strength and form of the opposition - one should expect nothing less from an international player batting anywhere from 1-7.

As an example, it was clear in the last Test that England needed to bat well into the final day to have any real chance of winning - the chances of anyone coming in and blasting it around like Gilchrist for 20 overs was minimal.